PM to welcome French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault to Canada

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that he will welcome Jean-Marc Ayrault, Prime Minister of the French Republic, to Ottawa on March 13-14, 2013, as part of his official visit to Canada.

“Canada’s relationship with France is rooted in our deep historic, cultural and linguistic ties. Our countries are key commercial partners and cooperate closely on global issues of strategic importance,” said the Prime Minister. “I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Ayrault to Ottawa and exploring ways to further deepen the strong Canada-France relationship.”

This will be Prime Minister Ayrault’s first official visit to Canada since he took office in May 2012. The visit will provide an opportunity for both leaders to discuss matters of shared interest, including the global economy, trade and investment, progress towards a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the European Union, and international matters such as the situation in Mali.

The French Prime Minister’s visit to Canada builds on the momentum established during Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s meeting with President François Hollande in Paris in June 2012, and on the margins of the Francophonie Summit in October 2012.